The Influence of personal skills for telework on organisational commitment: The mediating effect of the perceived intensity of telework

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of personal skills for telework on organisational commitment as mediated by the intensity of telework. Data collected from a survey of 320 employees whose organisations provided the option of remote work were analysed. The results reveal that the influence of personal skills for telework on the affective, continuance, and normative organisational commitment dimensions is partly mediated by the perceived intensity of telework. The study revealed that this relationship is mediated at different levels by the intensity of telework. Good personal telework skills have the strongest influence on emotional attachment to the organisation, a somewhat weaker influence on continuance commitment that is linked to the fear of changing jobs, and the weakest influence on normative commitment, which emphasises the sense of responsibility to remain with an organisation. This study fills a research gap and contributes to existing telework intensity studies in the context of crisis (i.e., the COVID -19 pandemic).